Pain when swallowing is common to everyone, regardless of age. There are many possible causes of pain when you swallow. However, oftenThis condition is often caused by inflammation or infection of the throat.
Some diseases that can cause pain when swallowing are colds, chronic cough, tonsillitis (tonsillitis), ulcers or sores in the esophagus, stomach acid rising into the esophagus (stomach acid reflux) and infections or strep throat.
In addition, a sore throat that causes pain when swallowing can also be caused by a Corona virus infection or COVID-19. This disease will usually also cause other symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
Complaints of pain when swallowing are often considered the same as difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), even though these two things are actually different. Difficulty swallowing is not always caused by pain.
The process of swallowing involves various muscles and nerves in the body, including the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach. When there is damage or a medical condition that interferes with that part of the body, pain when swallowing can occur.
Medicine to Cope with Pain sat Swallow
Medications to treat pain when swallowing can vary, depending on the cause. To determine the cause, you need to consult a doctor. Medications that may be given when experiencing pain when swallowing are adjusted for the cause, such as:
- Anti-inflammatory – Inflammation or inflammation is one of the main causes of pain when swallowing. Therefore, you may be given anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation in the tonsils, esophagus, or throat. This drug can be given in the form of tablets, syrup, or spray.
- Mouthwash - Mouthwash can act as a pain reliever and kill germs that cause infections in the throat.
- Antibiotics - There is a possibility that the doctor will give antibiotics if the cause of the pain is a bacterial infection of the tonsils, esophagus, and throat. However, antibiotics are not effective if the infection is caused by a virus. Types of antibiotics that are often used for this condition are group amoxicillin and penicillin. If you have an allergy to these antibiotics, your doctor will give you another type of antibiotic.
How to Relieve Pain when Swallowing
Besides being caused by disease, pain when swallowing can also occur due to talking too much or shouting. If this is experienced, do not rush to take painkillers. You can do the following things to reduce pain when swallowing:
- copy drink waterDrinking water can moisturize the throat. This aims to hydrate the body, as well as prevent irritation and soothe an inflamed throat. To meet the needs of body fluids, it is recommended to drink 8 glasses of water a day.
- Relieve with a warm drink
Even if you're sick, it's also important to have enough nutrition. You can eat warm foods such as chicken soup when you have a sore throat. Chicken soup eaten warm can soothe the throat, help loosen mucus, and help relieve pain when swallowing.
- Gargle with salt water
Make a brine solution by mixing half a tablespoon of salt and a full glass of warm water, then use it to rinse your mouth at least every three hours or as needed. You can also add teaspoon baking soda in the solution.
Make sure you rinse your mouth while tilting your head so that the salt water reaches the back of your throat.
- Use rubbing medicineUse a liniment or rubbing oil made from herbs such as peppermint or menthol on the nose and/or chest. Inhale the steam to help soothe an inflamed throat.
- Give a warm compress on the neckCompress your throat using a cloth that has been dipped in warm water and squeezed out. In addition to using a cloth, attaching a bottle filled with warm water to the neck is also considered to have the same benefits. In addition to treating from the inside, taking care from the outside also helps accelerate the healing of pain when swallowing.
- Avoid mecigarettes and polluted airIf you want to be free from pain when swallowing, avoid smoking. Tar in cigarettes can irritate the lining of the throat. In addition, avoid air pollution, such as exposure to cigarette smoke, dust, and fumes from vehicles. You can try using humidifier to keep the air clean and humid.
If you have tried various methods, but still feel pain when swallowing or it gets worse, especially if you have difficulty eating and drinking, see a doctor immediately. Do not forget, convey all the symptoms that are felt so that the doctor can provide the right treatment.